Jason's story: A young life lost
Jason Garrels was just 20 years old when he died at a construction site in 2012. He had only been working there for nine days and his death was preventable.
In this video, produced by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, Jason’s family and friends share their experiences to raise awareness about the importance of workplace safety, the need for effective communication between subcontractors on construction sites, and appropriate supervision and supportive mentoring for young workers.
It also brings to attention the importance of housekeeping in preventing incidents, and allowing emergency access to sites if an incident does occur.
Statistics show how vulnerable children and young people are in the workplace. They can be oblivious to hazards in their surroundings, are often unaware of their rights and responsibilities, and may not be confident to speak up about safety concerns.
On 28 April each year, countries around the world pause to commemorate workers who have died as a result of a workplace incident or occupational disease.
Each year, Unions NSW and SafeWork NSW hold a service on the 28th of April, which is International Day of Mourning to honour and remember those who lost their life at work.
At the service, families are invited to add ‘memory cards’ and flowers to the Memory Lines sculpture in honour of their loved ones.
We encourage employers and workers across the state to take time on International Day of Mourning to think about the significance of work health and safety and how workplace incidents can affect those around them.
For more information about young workers, read the Young Workers eToolkit which has information for parents, young workers and employers.